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Grace Chingoma Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS defender Oscar Machapa could not hide his excitement after firing home the all-important winner which gave his side maximum points against old enermies CAPS United during yesterday’s Harare derby at Rufaro. “My left foot is stronger than my right because two years ago my right leg got injured so I was playing with the left foot and it is (getting) stronger,” he said after the match.
Machapa received a pass on the right, fooled CAPS United leftback Ronald Pfumbidzayi by switching the ball to his left foot and breezed past his next marker before unleashing a curling shot that flew past CAPS United goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube in the first half.
It was a wonder goal and it was enough to separate these two great Harare rivals. Moreso it saw the big defender craving his name in the archives of derby matches as one player who has rose to the occasion, never mind playing for which team at that particular moment.
After all, matches of this magnitude are all about making a difference.rising to the occasion, contributing and showing that special factor when other players are being cowed by the pressure and tension.
Turning the clock back then to April 2009, Machapa had a vintage wing display for the Green Machine when he virtually ended the career for former Dynamos defender Sam Mtenheri whom he left for dead twice feeding former CAPS United striker Nyasha Mushekwi, who grabbed a brace.
It was Mtenheri’s last game in Dynamos’ colours.
But yesterday on a sunny afternoon at a packed Rufaro, Machapa turned back the hands of time.
Never mind that he was deemed excess baggage at South African Premiership side Moroka Swallows. Never mind that he wasn’t donning the green and white strip after opting to join Dynamos having initially left the country to join the Great Trek in South Africa.
Never mind that there was no sight of Mtenheri at the artficial turfed Rufaro or Mushekwi to finish off his crosses.
Machapa simply showed his class. He did everything for himself. And he just proved that he is not ready to lose a match called a derby any time soon.
Maybe he had more to show and prove.
When the Warriors coach Ian Gorowa drafted him into the national team before he had even kicked a ball with Dynamos and said he is an exprienced player who is now locally-based and he would rather take advantage of that and use him. He showed that the coach knew what he was talking about.
Fielding questions after show yesterday, Machapa skilfully evaded the question whether he is looking at reviving his career at Dynamos just like what Takesure Chinyama and Simba Sithole did before landing contracts with South African Absa Premiership sides.
“I just want to play for Dynamos and my contract is still running.
“I try to give my hundred percent every time I play. I just play like it is my last game.
“Whenever I play, I fight like it is my last game,” he said.
Machapa said there wasn’t any time to sympathise with his former team which has last won a derby during his days at the Green Machine.
“It is my first goal against my former team and I am happy. I couldn’t lose a derby as I have said I had never lost a derby and worse still against my former team so the job just had to be done,” he said.
The former Moroka Swallows defender said his first priority remains clearing the lines for DeMbare and scoring like yesterday would just be a bonus.
Online Reporter